Aglaonema plant named ‘TWYAG0009B’

ABSTRACT

A new  Aglaonema  plant particularly distinguished by having a very dense, leafy, compact and upright branched growth habit, being small to intermediate in stature and very vigorous and having a somewhat faster growth rate than typical commercial  Aglaonema  cultivars is disclosed.

Genus and species: Aglaonema hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘TWYAG0009B’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Aglaonema, botanically known as Aglaonema hybrid, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘TWYAG0009B’. The new cultivar originated from an open pollination made in Bogor, West Java, Indonesia. A single plant selection was chosen for further evaluation and for asexual propagation from the progeny of the open pollination in Bogor, W. Java, Indonesia.

The new cultivar was created in Bogor, W. Java, Indonesia and has been asexually reproduced repeatedly by vegetative cuttings and tissue culture in Apopka, Fla. The present invention has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this cultivar were applied for in the European Union in early September 2007. ‘TWYAG0009B’ has not been made publicly available more than one year prior to the filing of this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normal horticultural practices in Apopka, Fla.

-   -   1. Small to intermediate in stature;     -   2. Very dense, leafy, compact and upright branched growth habit;     -   3. Very vigorous; and     -   4. Somewhat faster growing than typical commercial Aglaonema         cultivars.

DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Aglaonema plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which show the overall habit of the new plant. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

FIG. 1 shows the overall habit of the new plant.

FIG. 2 shows the upper and lower surface of a new leaf.

FIG. 3 shows the upper and lower surfaces of mature leaves.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘TWYAG0009B’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Apopka, Fla. The plant history was taken on 18-month-old plants started from a single 4-leaf rooted cutting, still in a vegetative state and grown in Apopka, Fla. Rooted cuttings were planted in 20-cm pots and grown in a greenhouse in July 2006 where the average day temperature ranged from about 85° to 95° F. and the average night temperature ranged from about 72° to 78° F. The light level was about 3000 foot candles. The plants were pinched twice. Color readings were taken under natural light. Color referent primarily to the R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.) (2001).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Araceae.         -   Botanical.—Aglaonema hybrid.         -   Cultivar name.—‘TWYAG0009B’.         -   Common name.—Chinese Evergreen. -   Parentage: Unknown individual plants of Aglaonema. -   Growth:     -   -   Form.—Symmetrical, wider than tall; new leaves held upright,             mature leaves arch outward.         -   Growth and branching habit.—Very dense, leafy, compact;             upright branched growth habit (basal branching); small to             intermediate in stature.         -   Height (from soil to top of leaf plane.).—30 cm to 35 cm.         -   Diameter (area of spread, measured from leaf tip to leaf tip             across the canopy).—44 cm to 50 cm.         -   Time to produce a finished plant.—18 months starting from a             single 4-leaf rooted cutting and pinched twice.         -   Root description.—Abundant, fleshy white roots with finer             lateral branches.         -   Number of divisions or clumps per year.—About 15, four-leaf             cuttings per year.         -   Durability of foliage to stresses.—Leaves hold up well             against damage from shipping and handling; plant is durable,             excellent indoor keeping quality.         -   High temperature tolerance.—To about 104° F. for several             hours without damage.         -   Low temperature tolerance.—To about 55° F. or several hours             without damage. -   Stems:     -   -   Type.—Basal branching.         -   Number of branches per plant.—49.         -   Length (from soil line to the junction of the newest two             leaves).—17 cm.         -   Diameter (measured from the midpoint).—1.0 cm.         -   Internode length.—1.0 cm to 1.6 cm.         -   Color.—Immature: RHS 146C to RHS 146D tinged with RHS 146B,             and mottled with RHS 160C. Mature: RHS 147A mottled with RHS             146C and tinged with RHS 163C.         -   Appearance (shape).—Columnar, cylindrical upright.         -   Aspect.—Vertical, upright.         -   Strength.—Sturdy, somewhat flexible.         -   Axillary buds.—Shape: Elliptic, flat. Length: 0.6 cm. Width:             0.35 cm. Color: RHS N155C. -   Leaves:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, single leaf per petiole, simple,             arranged in a spiral along the stem.         -   Quantity of leaves per stem.—About 10-13.         -   Length.—12.8 cm to 14.9 cm.         -   Width.—Flattened: 6.5 cm to 7.5 cm. Not flattened: 5.0 cm to             6.5 cm; the leaf blade folds upward along the midrib.         -   Shape.—Elliptic.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Acute.         -   Margin.—Smooth, entire with some broad undulations.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth; new leaves shiny;             mature leaves glossy to dull; the leaf blade is convex             between the main veins giving the leaf a textured             appearance; leaf blade (distal end) is cupped upward.         -   Pubescence.—None.         -   Young leaf (newly expanded leaf).—Color: Upper side: RHS             147A base color; leaf blade variably marked with irregular,             diffuse RHS 147C and RHS 146A (lighter green) variegation.             Lower side: RHS 147B base color with RHS 181C cast overall;             leaf blade variably marked with irregular, diffuse RHS 147B             (lighter-green) variegation.         -   Mature leaf.—Color: Upper side: Between RHS N189A and RHS             147A base color; leaf blade variably marked with irregular,             diffuse RHS N189B, RHS 147A and RHS 191A (lighter green to             grey-green) variegation; the variegation becomes more             prominent as the leaf ages. Lower side: Between RHS 147A and             RHS N189A base color with RHS 182B cast overall; leaf blade             variably marked with irregular, diffuse RHS 147B, RHS 148A             and RHS 191A (lighter green to grey-green) variegation;             variegation becomes more prominent as the leaf ages.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate, radiating outward from the midrib             in a herringbone arrangement.         -   Venation color (newly expanded leaf).—Upper surface: Primary             veins: RHS 145C variably tinged with RHS 50C. Midrib: RHS             194D variably tinged with RHS 51C to RHS 51D. Lower surface:             Primary veins: Between RHS 185D and RHS 181D.             Midrib-proximal: Between RHS 147B and RHS 146B with faint             spots of RHS 165D. Midrib-distal: RHS 181D.         -   Venation color (mature leaf).—Upper surface: Primary veins:             RHS 147A to RHS 147B. Midrib: RHS 185C to RHS 185D with             streaks of RHS 147A. Lower surface: Primary veins: RHS 65D             tinged with RHS 195C. Midrib-proximal: RHS 147A to RHS 147B             with faint spots of RHS 165D. Midrib-distal: RHS 65C to RHS             65D tinged with RHS 147B and RHS 146B. -   Petioles:     -   -   Aspect.—Vertical, upright when newly expanded, becoming             curved outward and about 45° with maturity.         -   Length.—7.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—Distal: 0.4 cm. Proximal (petiole and petiole             sheath clasp the stem proximally): Flattened: 2.9 cm.             Natural diameter: 1.0 cm.         -   Color.—Distal: Mottled with RHS 147A, RHS 146A and RHS 162D,             tinged with RHS 147C (between top of wing and base of leaf).             Proximal: Variably mottled or streaked with RHS 147A, RHS             146A, RHS 146B, RHS 161D and RHS N155C, and often tinged             with RHS 49D.         -   Wing length.—6.2 cm.         -   Wing diameter.—Mid-point: 0.7 cm. Base: 1.0 cm. Depth: 0.55             cm.         -   Wing color.—Inside: RHS N155C sparsely mottled with RHS             146B. Outside: Variably mottled or streaked with RHS 147A,             RHS 146A, RHS 146B, RHS 161D and RHS N155C and often tinged             with RHS 49D. Area adjacent to stem: RHS N155C. -   Inflorescence: None observed. -   Fruit and seed set: None observed.

Disease and insect resistance: Typical of Aglaonema; no particular resistance or susceptibility noted.

COMPARISON WITH KNOWN CULTIVARS

‘TWYAG0009B’ differs from the commercial variety ‘Key Largo’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,550) in that ‘TWYAG0009B’ has a shorter and narrower growth habit than ‘Key Largo’. In addition, the leaves of ‘TWYAG0009B’ are shorter, narrower and more variegated than the leaves of ‘Key Largo’. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Aglaonema plant as shown and described herein. 